Aminophylline and Breastfeeding: Safety & Considerations

While it is inadvisable for a mother to take certain types of medications during pregnancy and while nursing, others are permissible. One such allowable drug is Aminophylline, a bronchodilator used to treat asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung-related maladies.

Pregnancy Contraindications

• The FDA categorizes fetal drug risks on a five-level rating scale from A to X (where A is the lowest risk and X is the highest risk). Aminophylline is categorized as a C-level risk. This is defined by the FDA as "animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women."

Nursing Contraindications

• Aminophylline studies in nursing women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breast-feeding. This is despite the fact that Aminophylline is excreted in breast milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers Aminophylline to be compatible with breast-feeding.

Preventative Tips

• In a study of nursing mothers, the highest concentrations of the drug were found between one and three hours after ingestion. Exposure can be mitigated by avoiding nursing during this peak time.